Most sports have debates over who is the greatest player of all time, but in the NFL, there is very little argument. Tom Brady’s success at the elite level helped to change the face of football, and, away from the field he became a huge presence and ambassador for the game.
In the same way that Wayne Gretzky dominated the National Hockey League, Brady set NFL quarterback records that may never be beaten. He set the standard for others to follow, but those landmarks may never be matched.
History of Success
Tom Brady converted his talent into trophies, and across a lengthy career, he won no fewer than seven Super Bowl Championships. That’s his most coveted record, and no other player in NFL history has won more than five titles.
The influential quarterback began with the New England Patriots and played with the franchise for nineteen years between 2000 and 2019. The following year saw an unexpected switch to the Buccaneers, and Brady spent his final three seasons with Tampa Bay.
Wherever he played, Tom Brady’s sides saw their NFL odds reduced significantly as they became likely favorites for Super Bowl success. No franchise could be called a one-man team, but Brady carried New England and Tampa Bay on occasion.
He’s been a superstar across that 23-year career, but how did it all begin?
College Days
While Tom Brady showed promise during his college football career, it wasn’t immediately picked up by NFL teams. He played for the Michigan Wolverines between 1995 and 1999, but a lack of game time meant that he entered the NFL draft down among the round six picks.
The frustration he felt as a backup quarterback may have ultimately led to a positive change in the player’s outlook. During his time at Michigan, Brady hired a sports psychologist to help him through the tough times. While it wasn’t enough to lift his profile in the 2000 draft, the lessons learned made him better prepared for life in the NFL.
Solid Foundations
While college football offered a true test of Tom Brady’s character, a solid family background was another factor behind his determination to succeed. The fourth child of parents Thomas and Galynn, he was brought up in a Catholic household, where he developed his love for football.
The Brady family regularly attended San Francisco 49ers games, where quarterback Joe Montana proved to be young Tom’s hero. His enthusiasm led to his attendance at football camps before he developed his skills at Junipero Serra High School.
College to NFL
A lack of game time at the Wolverines saw Tom Brady claimed as the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft. The New England Patriots made their move, and it proved to be the wisest decision in the franchise’s history.
At the end of Brady’s second full season in the NFL, the Patriots won their first ever Super Bowl title. The team were huge underdogs going into the game against the St Louis Rams, but an inspired performance led to a 20-17 win.
With established starting quarterback Tom Brady pulling the strings, further silverware was on the way. New England won five more Super Bowls in the Brady era, before that controversial switch to the Buccaneers.
Some find it impossible to pick a career highlight, but for many, one game stands out above all others.
Brady’s Finest Moment?
Tom Brady produced many unforgettable moments for both of his NFL franchises, but his performance at Super Bowl LI has to be the most remarkable. New England Patriots came from behind in the fourth quarter to complete what many believe to be the greatest comeback in any sport.
Trailing 28-12 to the Atlanta Falcons with just nine minutes to go, Brady threw two touchdowns, and with the addition of successful two-point conversions, the game was tied. For the first time in the Super Bowl era, overtime was needed to settle the match and James White’s touchdowm run sealed the comeback.
Tom Brady: The Records
We already know that Tom Brady boasts the record for the most Super Bowl wins as a player, but what other achievements has he delivered? When he eventually retired from the game, the quarterback held no fewer than 23 NFL records.
Among the new milestones that Brady set was the most number of appearances, most Super Bowl MVPs, most playoff wins, most passing yards, most passing touchdown and most regular season wins.
The list goes on and the overall landmarks created mean that many consider Tom Brady to be the undisputed greatest NFL player of all time.
A solid grounding in family life and during his college career helped Tom Brady become the greatest quarterback the game has ever seen. It’s interesting that after some struggles at college level, his life was turned around by sports psychology.
From that point, his talent and determination took over, allowing Tom Brady to write his name in NFL history.
